Page 14 of A Mate for Christmas

Both me and my tiger want to attack this man and tear him limb from limb, but we also know we need to protect River at all costs. A strange calmness sweeps over me as my tiger and I are in sync for the first time in a long time. He has never agreed with my choices when it came to women, but he is all in right now.

Dropping to a crouch in front of River, I glare at the man as he gets to his feet. The sirens are getting closer and indecision wars on his features. Stay and try to finish the job, or run and live to fight another day.

He bolts from the apartment and I turn to River to assesswhat damage has been done. Some of her color has returned and she is breathing, although it sounds labored. I feel relief like I never have before as I gingerly lift her into my arms and carry her over to the couch.

As I lay her down, I see a cell phone. I reach out to move it, but the screen catches my attention, and my blood runs cold. Playing on a repeat loop is the video I sent to my ligress less than an hour ago. I watch in horror as my hand strokes my cock until I come all over my stomach and the video starts again.

River is my Ligress.

Fuck.

Chapter Five

River Thomas

Opening my eyes, I try to turn from the bright light blinding me.

“Hold still,” Mrs. Williams says. “Let the paramedic check you over.”

I sigh knowing that as long as I am still alive the shifter magic in my veins will help me heal at an accelerated rate. By tomorrow evening this will be nothing more than a bad memory. That is, if I can get away from all the people worrying over me right now so I can find a spot in the tropical foliage on the outskirts of town to shift.

I take in the scene around me. There’s a man dressed as a paramedic, Mrs. Williams, and Carter Lawson.

Fuck! What is my boss doing here? I try to push up again but the glare he throws my way has me remaining in my spot.

“She seems to be fine,” the paramedic addresses Carter. “But I still suggest taking her to the emergency room for a full workup.”

He starts to pack the little bag with all the items he used to assess me.

“I will take her as soon as possible,” Carter says in a tone that leaves no room for argument.

“We need to get her statement,” a police officer I didn’t see says. Carter levels him with a glare that could peel paint off a building. “Unless she isn’t pressing charges.”

“No charges,” I croak.

My voice sounds strange and my throat hurts like a motherfucker. It feels like I tried to give a cactus a blowjob. I don’t want to press charges. I don’t want to deal with anyone. I just want to be left alone to lick my wounds, literally and figuratively. My gaze clashes with Carter’s, begging him to dosomething.

I still don’t understand why he is here but when he starts ushering people out, I couldn’t be more grateful. After the last person leaves, I get off the couch and head toward my bedroom. I need to change out of these clothes and into something less constricting. My ligress is prowling the corners of my mind begging for the chance to shift and start to heal. She is also highly bloodthirsty at the moment.

“Where are you going?” Carter asks me.

“I need to change.”

“River.”

He reaches out to touch my shoulder before dropping his hand by his side. He thinks I’m damaged by what Kevin did, that any man’s touch right now will send me over the edge.

“We both know I need to shift,” I say, and his eyes widen. “What? Do you think I didn’t pick up on your animal the moment I walked onto your floor? You’re a predator, Mr. Lawson. Probably some big ass carnivore.”

He nods as a small smile twitches at the side of his mouth. “We do need to talk.”

“No, I need to run.” I close the door to my room to afford myself some semblance of privacy.

Carter Lawson has me twisted in knots. One minute I want to be a smart-mouthed brat and the next I want to fall into his strong arms and just be held like some damsel in distress.

I’m putting on a big show now, but inside I’m dying. I don’t know what the fuck to do. My apartment is supposed to be my safe space and Kevin has violated that. He took something from me that I hadn’t realized was my most prized possession. The door to my room swings open and Carter strides in before pulling me against his muscular chest.

“It’s all right, River. I’ve got you.” He runs a hand up and down my spine trying to soothe me.

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